Bombers cling on in VFL win

Brent Diamond

Essendon has kept its finals hopes alive with a stunning three-point upset win over premiership fancies Box Hill Hawks at Craigieburn on Saturday.

Despite two late goals from the Hawks, the Bombers prevailed by three points after limping out to a 15-point lead mid-way through the last term.

The margin at each change was within a kick and after being on the end of several close losses this season, Bombers VFL coach Hayden Skipworth was elated with the victory.

The Bombers have jumped into the top eight from 11th spot and have renewed their chances of playing in September.

Ruckman Sam Tagliablue was outstanding for the Bombers. Although Tom Bellchambers was clinical at times, Tagliablue was the most dominant big man on the ground and asserted the Bombers' dominance at critical times in the match.

A goal to Essendon rookie Johnny Rayner on the eve of three-quarter-time gave the Bombers a mini-break entering the last change.

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Rayner, who has blistering pace, was one of the Bombers' best in a break-out performance.

Alistair Kefford kicked four goals and Cory Dell’Olio kicked three. Dell’Olio and Daniel Coghlan both kicked important goals in the final term to get the Bombers out to their biggest lead of the match.

Essendon will remain in the eight only if Geelong and the Northern Blues lose on Sunday.

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Box Hill has dropped to second spot but could drop further to third if Footscray beats Geelong on Sunday.

The Werribee Tigers fought back from a 16-point deficit at the last change to beat North Ballarat by 22 points at Avalon Airport Oval.

Jarrod Moore (29 disposals), Addam Maric (11 disposals and three goals) and Tom Gribble (24 disposals) were the leading lights for the Tigers. Coach John Lamont said the importance of its North Melbourne-listed players in the run to the finals was crucial.

Majak Daw, Taylor Hine and Brayden Norris were among the Tigers' best.

“If we came up against Box Hill, they’ve got 17-listed [Hawthorn] blokes so you need a few just for fitness and size and all those things,” Lamont said.

“Because of the way we’ve recruited, we’ve recruited differently than Port Melbourne and Williamstown as stand-alone teams. We’ve gone younger and all those sort of things. We recruit that way because we’ve got a partial alignment.”

He praised North’s other partial affiliate North Ballarat, who at times, have had to battle with just three AFL-listed players this season.

“But Fitzy’s a great coach, he’s experienced, they’re nice and organised so we knew they were going to be hard to beat,” he said.